Welcome to the School of Public Health – London.
Whether you're exploring a career in public health, preparing to apply for training in London, or already part of our community as a registrar or supervisor, we hope our webpages provide valuable information.
We offer general guidance on training in London and direct you to additional resources that may be beneficial.
For training-related guidelines and resources, visit the NHS England – London PGMDE Support Portal.
To learn more about Public Health and its professional body, visit the Faculty of Public Health.
Rachel Wells, Head of School
Rachel Wells has led the School of Public Health – London since Autumn 2018, following several years as a TPD and ES. With a strong passion for education, she has focused on advancing the School, fostering collaboration, and introducing innovative approaches in London. Her commitment to delivering high-quality registrar training while maximizing opportunities for London registrars has been a top priority. She actively promotes registrar involvement in decision-making, engagement, and constructive challenges. Additionally, Rachel has been a longstanding advocate for developing the wider public health workforce, assembling a dedicated team to support this mission.
Alongside her leadership at the School, Rachel serves as a Consultant in Public Health in Barnet, North London, overseeing the Neighbourhoods, Communities, and Mental Health team. Her work spans suicide prevention, community development, PCN neighbourhood public health, and asylum seeker health. Over her 30-year career, she has held diverse roles across local, regional, and national government and the NHS. Despite her extensive experience, she remains deeply enthusiastic about the evolving opportunities within public health.
Rachel is a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health (FFPH), registered with UKPHR as a Generalist Specialist, and contributes to the FPH Poverty Special Interest Group (SIG).
Julie George, Training Programme Director, FFPH PhD FHEA
Julie George took up the role of TPD in July 2020, at the same time she became Deputy Director of Public Health at Barnet. She worked as an educational supervisor for many years as part of her Consultant role at Surrey County Council. Since 2010, Julie has been associated with the Institute of Health Informatics at UCL, completing her NIHR Doctoral Fellowship in 2013 and subsequently securing an NIHR Postdoctoral Clinical Fellowship in 2017. Since October 2022, Julie has stepped back from full-time service Public Health to concentrate on her TPD role and academic research. Julie is a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health (FFPH) and registered with the UKPHR as Generalist Specialist.
Julie is the academic TPD for the School of Public Health. She also has responsibility for a cohort of about 40 registrars, and Educational Supervisor development. She is also the link TPD for all UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) placements, the academic institutions, thinktanks and voluntary agencies, and training locations in North West and North Central London.
Jane Leaman, Training Programme Director
Jane is a UKPHR-registered Public Health Specialist with over 25 years’ Department of Health, NHS, and local government experience whose career has evolved from nursing through specialist health promotion roles to being the Director of Public Health for both Swindon PCT and Newham Borough Council and a Consultant in Public Health in the fields of Health & Justice, violence reduction, and as part of the London Mayor’s COVID response and recovery team. She was until recently a Consultant in Public Health in London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. As a public health specialist, Jane has led public health programmes and co-author of papers in specialist fields such as health inequality, violence reduction, and mental health and health and social care in prisons. Jane is currently also an independent Monitoring Board (IMB) member of two prisons – a therapeutic prison and an open prison.
Jane is one of the Training Programme Director in the School of Public Health (London) where she very much enjoys working with a wide range of SpRs at different stages of training and with different experiences past and present; as well as working with Educational Supervisors to support high quality placements and the school to provide a high quality training experience. Jane leads on Supported Return to Training (SRTT) and Trainees in Difficulty for the School of Public Health. She is also the link TPD for local authorities in North East London, the GLA, NICE, OHOD-UKSHA Global, FCDO, and NHS England. Jane also leads on the ARCP process for the School.
Livia Royle, Training Programme Director
Livia joined the public health community 25 years ago. Since qualifying as a public health specialist in 2005, she undertook a number of public health consultant and director positions across London and the South East of England. Public health training and educational has always been Livia’s passion and she has supervised public health and GP registrars for many many years. Livia trained with GP educators and completed her PG Certificate for Teaching in Primary Care in 2013. Livia is a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health (FFPH) and registered with the UKPHR as Generalist Specialist.
Livia joined the London Public Health Training Programme as TPD in 2022. She enjoys working as part of a team alongside the Postgraduate Dean, the Head of School and her TPD colleagues. Livia views having the opportunity to support, enable and empower 50 registrars each year in order to discover their full potential and successfully navigate their journey of learning is the best role she could wish for. Livia leads on KA10 panels for the School. She is also the link TPD for local authorities in South London, the Department of Health and Social Care including OHID and the CMO’s office.
Vision for the School of Public Health
Developing the Public Health Workforce in London involves a creating a School of Public Health that supports our speciality registrars with exciting learning opportunities in accredited and well run placements with high quality educational supervision. Engagement in decision making and challenge to the School are vital to us, and providing as many opportunities as possible for registrars is important.
At the same time, we are acutely aware that there are a wide range of public health professionals in London who also need support to develop their skills and knowledge to gain recognition of their experience, whether this is through portfolio development or seeking accreditation. As such we are supporting colleagues completing their Specialist Portfolio, we have a strong Public Health Practitioner Scheme and we are working with OHID to support public health apprenticeships. Our team is exploring ways to work with London trusts and ICBs to support the development of funded public health skill and knowledge schemes of work.
Additionally, we are working across specialities with an innovative programme of work with the School of Psychiatry which enables registrars from both specialities to engage in shared work to meet learning outcomes and develop projects.
We also have developed an interactive online seminar series on a public health toolkit for Paediatricians to link up to public health and engage in using these skills. These have been run several times and are always oversubscribed.
At present we are leading the development of a new Dual Training programme in Public health and General Practice. The establishment of a new training programme from its beginning is an exciting and innovative experience for all concerned.
Transforming the School of Public Health into a strong and supported speciality in London, bringing innovation to the school and building on experiences, projects and interactions with other specialities is part of creating the vision of School of Public Health for London which supports the whole of the public health workforce. It is not possible without our partners, supervisors and senior decision makers and I thank them for the vision that they bring and the support they offer.
Rachel Wells, Head of School
The London School of Public Health offers a range of exciting opportunities which you might expect with the capital. These include access to suburban, urban, and inner-city areas with local government, with diversity, inequalities, and high-profile public health at their centre. London has 33 boroughs, many of which are open as training locations. These vary greatly and include some of the most deprived wards in the country, alongside some of the least deprived.
In addition, we offer experiences at the very centre of national government, regional government, world-renowned research and academic departments, specialist UK Health Security Agency teams, national think-tanks, and health protection teams, including the team that covers Heathrow Airport.
At any one time, the School has over 130 registrars. They will be on placements at our many training locations, completing an MSc in Public Health to support exam success, or out of programme temporarily pursuing other interests or completing a PhD.
When registrars start on the training programme in London, they are placed with one of the London local authorities. After completing a year in local authority, they usually go on to undertake a MSc in public health and then complete health protection training at one of UKHSA health protection teams. After completing their professional exams (diplomate and membership), they can go onto to more specialist placements.
Specialist placements include:
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National government departments like the office of Chief Medical Officers or the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
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National and regional teams with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities
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National and regional teams with UKHSA
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Local Health Protection teams including North West London which covers Heathrow
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National Institute of Health and Care Excellence
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Global health placements like Medicin Sans Frontier
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Thinktanks, including the Health Foundation and the Nuffield Trust
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The Greater London Authority
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NHS England teams, including the Screening and Immunisation Teams and specialised commissioning
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Universities like London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UCL, Imperial College, and Queen Mary University London
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Acute and community trusts like the Royal Free, Barts and the London, Chelsea and Westminster and East London Foundation Trust
Further details on each placements are available in the placement guide. Click here for more information.
The availability of specific placements will depend adequate educational supervision at the time a registrar wants to go there, so not all placements are available at all the time. Places at a number of training locations are awarded on a competitive basis, usually held on an annual basis.
London registrars can also potentially access placements outside of London which are advertised through the Faculty of Public Health as part of the nationally available training locations. Conversely registrars from outside London may be placed in London locations, through the same process. Click here for more information.
To meet the Code of Practice, all registrars should have a training location agreed 16 weeks before they are due to start. Any change in placement must be agreed with the registrar’s TPD as suitable to meet outstanding learning outcomes and right for the registrar at that point in time.
Recruitment
Public Health is unusual for a medical training programme because both those with a medical background or a background other than medicine (BOTM) can apply. Different criteria apply depending on whether the applicants is medical or BOTM.
Recruitment for public health registrars is run through a national competition run every November. Further information on the criteria and process is available on the NHS England website.
https://medical.hee.nhs.uk/medical-training-recruitment/medical-specialty-training/public-health
Additional information is available on the Faculty of Public Health website
https://www.fph.org.uk/training-careers/national-public-health-specialty-training-recruitment/
The application process is highly competitive. Successful candidates are offered their choice of training location in order of their score in the selection process.
If you want to find out more about the training programme from London registrars, they hold taster sessions. Information on the next session is available from lkssphmx@gmail.com. If you are interested in applying for the training scheme, please review the materials available on-line or attend a taster session before approaching any of the TPDs since we may not be able to answer questions in a timely manner.
Public Health Careers
There are a wide variety of roles in public health including the Consultant in Public Health. Further information on the range of roles, what you might expect from the role, what you could earn and testimonials from those doing the roles are available at https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/public-health
Additional information is available on the Faculty of Public Health website https://www.fph.org.uk/training-careers/
Introductory evening seminar for prospective registrars
Current public health registrars run an introductory evening seminar for those interested in finding out more about specialist public health training in London.
Information is provided about the training scheme structure and approach, as well as the application process. The aim of the seminars is to enable potential applicants to make an informed decision about applying for Public Health training in London.
The School of Public Health – London operates under the leadership of a Head of School (HoS), supported by an experienced team of Training Programme Directors (TPDs), who oversee training across the School’s geographical areas. Registrars are assigned to a TPD at the beginning of their training, with continuity maintained whenever possible. Each TPD manages specific workstreams and training locations. The Head of School reports directly to the Postgraduate Dean for Public Health.
To enhance training quality and experience, the HoS and TPDs hold regular meetings with a committee of registrar representatives to discuss key issues and collaborate on improvement projects.
Governance Structure
Strategic decisions are made by the School Board, which convenes two times a year. Membership includes:
- Postgraduate Dean (PG Dean) responsible for Public Health
- Head of School (HoS)
- Training Programme Directors (TPDs)
- Registrar representatives
- Representatives from NHS England (quality, finance, and health education teams working with public health)
- Lead employer (Royal Free Foundation Trust)
- Wider public health workforce leads
Ensuring High-Quality Training
A core function of the School is to provide high-quality training for registrars and to develop public health training more broadly. This includes working with a diverse range of placement partners, including new training environments, to ensure training remains adaptable and fit for the future.
Each training placement is overseen by an Educational Supervisor (ES) accredited by the School, ensuring registrars receive quality support. ESs are invited to regular meetings for updates and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in educational supervision.
Additionally, facilitated by the Faculty of Public Health, the HoS and TPDs engage with counterparts from other regions to share best practices and discuss developments in training policy.
The public health speciality training curriculum provides the framework of knowledge, skills, behaviours and attitudes which registrars will acquire through the training programme to enable them to work at consultant level in public health. The curriculum is developed by the Faculty of Public Health and approved by the General Medical Council. Further information on the curriculum including the 2022 curriculum is available on the FPH website. https://www.fph.org.uk/training-careers/specialty-training/curriculum/
The acquisition of competencies as laid out in the curriculum are assessed annually for all registrars at the Annual Review of Competency Progression (ARCP), normally held during May for most registrars. See the section on ARCPs for further information on this.
The Public Health speciality training scheme also allows for a formal formative assessment just before the final year of training called a KA10 panel. See the section on KA10 Panels for further information the way in which we manage our KA10 panels.
Registrars are required to pass two professional exams as part of their training. These should be completed before moving onto specialist placements. General information on the two exams can be found at FPH exams
The first, the Diplomate exam, is designed to test individual’s knowledge of public health. The syllabus of knowledge that individuals are expected to master is published on the FPH website (DFPH syllabus). The Diplomate exam is run on-line twice a year in October and March. More detailed information on other elements of the diplomate exam, including how to apply to sit the exam, can be found at DFPH
The second exam, the Membership exam, is designed to test an individual’s ability “to apply relevant knowledge, skills and attitudes to the practice of public health”. This is an in-person exam, held four times a year, usually in February, May, September, and November. The exam is held either in London or Liverpool. The format used is an Objective Structured Public Health Exam (OSPHE), which consists of a series of stations where individual skills are tested. More detailed information on other elements of the membership exam, including how to apply to sit the exam, can be found at MFPH
The London registrars organise a series of up to 10 full-day training days about topics of interest in public health, assisted by the Health Education Team. Registrars are expected to attend; project and educational supervisors are welcome to attend. All meetings are now held face to face, with some availability to attend via teams.
See below for the schedule for 2023-24, including links to register for the day. Previous years schedules are available below as attachments.
Please contact the Health Education Team via the PGMDE Support Portal for any queries about the RTD programme.
[HET team to insert programme here with links to register for each event. See exemplar on the intensive care section of the website - Intensive Care Medicine | London (hee.nhs.uk))
Annual Review of Competency Progression (ARCP)
The ARCP is a mandatory process for all Public Health Specialty Registrars to progress to the next year of training. It involves submitting written evidence collected throughout the year via the e-portfolio, following the guidelines outlined in the Gold Guide.
Process Overview
- ARCP requirements vary depending on the type of training placement or whether the registrar is out of programme (OOP).
- For details on ARCPs during OOP or parental leave, visit the PGMDE Support Portal to access FAQs.
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All Public Health (PH) registrars typically undergo Annual Review of Competency Progression (ARCP) in May, unless they are out of sync due to scheduling adjustments. For registrars completing training or requiring an ARCP for other reasons, panels are scheduled throughout the year to ensure timely review
- The Faculty of Public Health (FPH) mandates the final ARCP no more than three months before CCT, so panels are scheduled throughout the year as needed.
- All Public Health ARCPs are held in absentia.
Notification & Documentation
- Registrars receive ARCP notifications at least six weeks in advance, including guidance on the required documentation.
- All documentation must be uploaded to the FPH e-portfolio.
- Every ARCP submission must include Form R (part A & B via TIS Self-Service - TSS), which is essential for registrar revalidation.
ARCP Panel & Outcomes
- TPDs chair ARCP panels, supported by two or more Educational Supervisors (ESs), with a lay observer ensuring equity.
- ARCP outcomes are determined based on the submitted evidence.
- If evidence is incomplete, an Outcome 5 is issued, requiring the registrar to submit missing documentation within 10 days.
For further details, FAQs, and a full list of required documents, visit the Public Health ARCP Resource Library.
KA10s panels are available to registrars on the London Public Health training programme approximately 12 months before the completion of their training.
Each year, the healthcare education team (HET) contacts all registrars via email, inviting them to register for an upcoming KA10 panel. In London, these panels are chaired by TPDs, with support from ESs, and take place frequently. Please liaise with the HET team via the PGMDE Support Portal for further information.
Participation in KA10 panels is optional, but registrars who have taken part have found them beneficial in preparing for the final stages of training.
What are KA10 panels?
KA10 panels were introduced as part of the 2015 Public Health (PH) curriculum, specifically focusing on Key Area 10: Integration and Application of Competences for Consultant Practice. This was further refined in the 2022 Curriculum.
Key Area 10 assesses a registrar’s ability to integrate and apply public health competences at the consultant level, with full achievement expected during the final year of training.
To support Registrars and their Educational Supervisors in developing and demonstrating these competences, an additional formative assessment was established. This assessment helps ensure registrars are prepared for consultant-level practice upon completing training. The timing of the assessment allows for identification and resolution of any additional training needs before the end of the programme.
Further information is available on the FPH website. Click here for more information.
Each year, registrars organize a regional conference to highlight their work and explore key topics relevant to the School of Public Health – London. This event serves as a platform for knowledge-sharing and professional engagement within the public health community.
Further details will be provided separately.
NIHR Integrated Academic Training
The partnership between a number of London universities and the School of Public Health has a strong record of attracting Academic Clinical Fellows (ACFs) and Clinical Fellows (CL) funding, ensuring that ACFs/ACL complete their service training, secure academic funding and go on to academic careers. On average, there are 3-4 ACFs advertised every year, with CLs available less frequently. ACFs/CLs have been or will be based at the following prestigious London universities:
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Imperial College London
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King’s College London
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London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)
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Queen Mary University London (QMUL)
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St George’s, University of London
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University College London (UCL)
Registrars applying for an ACF must have a medical background. Recruitment for ACFs is usually in October/November each year, with CLs recruitment at different points throughout the year. If an individual is successful in securing an ACF but is not currently a Public Health registrar, they must also apply to the public health speciality training programme.
Further information is available on the London Integrated Academic Training website Integrated Academic Training | London (hee.nhs.uk).
Julie George is the academic Training Programme Director for Public Health in London.
Academic Placements
Universities listed below are able to take registrars on academic placements to address Key Area 8 and other learning outcomes. For further information on potential academic placements, contact the lead Educational Supervisor in each institution as early as possible.
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Imperial College: Richard Pinder - richard.pinder@imperial.ac.uk
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LSHTM: Greg Hartwell - Gregory.Hartwell@lshtm.ac.uk
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QMUL: Oyinlola Oyebode - o.oyebode@qmul.ac.uk
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UCL: Nigel Field - nigel.field@ucl.ac.uk
Local Authority Public Health Research Network
A number of partners across London have developed the Local Authority Public Health Research Network (LAPHRN) which seeks to develop academic research in local authority settings. Further information is available from https://www.arc-nt.nihr.ac.uk/get-involved/laphrn/
This section of the website will be available soon.
There are several initiatives available to Public Health registrars to train more flexibly. These include part time training, known as Less Than Full Time (LTFT) training, as well as the opportunity to take time out of programme to address personal situations or advance career development.
Public Health registrars have regularly taken OOP to take up places on the Field Epidemiology Fellowship Programme, the Medical Director’s Fellowships, London Darzi Fellowships and other prestigious awards. Please be aware that going on OOP could jeopardize your continuity of service.
For more information about Less Than Full Time Training, see Less Than Full Time : PGMDE Support Portal (hee.nhs.uk)
For more information on Out of Programme policies, including the different kinds of OOP available and application form, see Out of Programme / Acting Up : PGMDE Support Portal (hee.nhs.uk)
After reviewing the FAQs, please discuss any plans for flexible training you may have with your TPD before applying.
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This section of the website will be available soon.
All Public Health trainees within London are employed by Royal Free Hospitals Group. All employment related enquiries (such as contracts, HR) should be made to them: rf.leademployerservice@nhs.net
This section of the website will be available soon.
This section of the website will be available soon.
